Rear-Wheel-Drive Design, China Production-Only for Lincoln's New MKS

Lincoln will not import its current MKS to China, which may seem like an odd omission for a market that thrives on big sedans. Executives admit the Lincoln MKS is too small on the inside for its extra-large exterior (ever see one parked next to a Chrysler 300?). The brand launches in China with the MKZ sedan and MKC compact crossover this year and the MKX crossover and Navigator SUV in 2015.

The premium/luxury brand’s new “large sedan” premiers in China and in the U.S. in the 2016 calendar year, probably as a 2017 model. Lincoln executives keep calling it the “new large sedan,” which makes me think it might be renamed from MKS to something like MKL. Better yet, Lincoln could revive a real name, like “Cosmopolitan” or “Premier.” It may want to save “Continental” for something grander; perhaps a sport sedan based off the new Ford Mustang platform, though no such car has been approved for production.

Moving all production of the new Lincoln large sedan to China makes more sense, especially if it gets exclusive use of the RWD proportions. Lincoln’s plan for China anticipates sales for the brand there equaling sales in the U.S. in a few short years (it sold 81,694 here last year), and one source said the division is “considering all possibilities” for Chinese production. Ships full of MKZs, MKCs, MKXes, and Navigators sailing from North America to China could return with the MKS replacement, the source says.

If they build it in China, I can't see it selling well here. The perception is just too negative for a product of this caliber.
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3. There is not enough volume for just the MKS to be built alone.
__________________1997 Ford Taurus GL 220,000 miles and counting2013 Ford Taurus SEL 22,000 miles1989 Chrysler LeBaron 55,000 milesR.I.P Mercury and the Grand Marquis 1/4/11 @7:46 a.m.Ford Panther Platform: 1978-2011Broughams are meant for cruising the highway and the boulevard, not the quarter mile. Enjoying the ride, instead of getting it over with as soon as possible.

As to the thread, RWD proportions could work. I mean when Acura first launched a big part of their success was the look of the vehicles with RWD proportions that drew people in so they can then be pulled in by the rest of the car. Maybe Lincoln can make this work.

They build Ford models in China now, just like Buick. Those cars are for the China market. They have laws in China that say they have to build a certain % as local for them to even sell in those local markets.
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